Case Keenan signed with his first NFL team last year, returning to the Texans.
Now in 2024, he's reunited with Stefon Diggs, who Keenan believes is still in top form after the two shared the highlight of their careers together, the "Miracle of Minneapolis."
"Yeah, it was really cool to be back and see Diggs on the practice field and watch him absolutely excel at some routes that I've never seen anybody else do," Keenan said at the annual youth football camp, via Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. "He's still the same dynamic player. If anything, he's more sophisticated and can add a little extra touch to some routes when he needs to and win the game. He's been working hard to hone his craft and his tools, and I'm excited to see what he can do in the fall."
Keenan and Diggs originally crossed paths in 2017, when Keenan stepped in after Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford was sidelined with a knee injury early in the season, and Diggs was still emerging in his third season.
The two worked together to help the Minnesota Vikings qualify for the NFC Championship Game with a record of 13 wins and 3 losses. In the last 10 seconds of the divisional round, Keenan and Diggs teamed up to complete a 61-yard long pass, rewriting the 24-23 lead to 29-24, and the Vikings won a dream victory.
After the season, Keenan left, and Diggs stayed for two more years, then completed 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards in four consecutive seasons between 2020 and 2023, becoming a star player for the Buffalo Bills. Like his current role with the Bills, Keenan was also a backup player in 2022, witnessing Diggs set a career-high 11 touchdowns.
He didn’t see the end of Diggs’ tenure in Buffalo, which began with five 100-yard catches in the first six games of 2023, but then saw a sharp decline late in the season. From December through the playoffs, Diggs failed to get into the end zone and had just two games with more than 50 receiving yards.
Diggs, who turns 31 in November, is now looking to rekindle his career in Houston. Keenan believes he still has all the tools needed to make it happen, and he’ll get less defensive attention from Houston’s stacked receiver corps — a new experience after Diggs was an unreachable top option in Buffalo.
By trading for Diggs this offseason, the Texans pieced together a three-headed monster with breakout star Nico Collins and up-and-coming Tucker Dell. Tight end Dalton Schultz is dangerous in his own right, while Joe Mixon represents a proven threat to help bolster the backfield and provide another option in the passing game.
After unexpectedly clinching the AFC South title in 2023 and winning a playoff game, Houston is ready to threaten to go even further again.
Leading it all, feeding the many mouths from the center position will be reigning AP Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud.
Just as he did with Diggs and the rest of the roster, Keenan has faith in the second-year quarterback to have more success in the new season.
“I think he’s hungry for success,” Keenan said. “Obviously we’ve had a lot of success and the guys are very proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish and what he’s been able to accomplish. There’s still some ground to be made. We want to end the season with a scattering of confetti and win that last game.”
This NFL jersey, representing the team in the National Football League (NFL), was first worn in 2002. The team, located in Houston, Texas, is a member of the AFC South division. Its logo, featuring a bull's head, symbolizes the players' toughness, determination, and energy. The jersey, typically dark blue with red accents, showcases the player's number and name on the front, back, and shoulders. With a rich history, the Texans have achieved notable successes, including winning six divisional championships.
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